New Jersey Devils Lineup Should Be Fun With Nico Hischier And Jesper Bratt

The New Jersey Devils should be even more fun to watch when healthy and all together.

The New Jersey Devils are a unique team right now. They have some great young forwards and defensemen who are going to be a part of the team for a long time. It gets even more exciting when you think about the fact that they might have their franchise goalie and more great skaters on the way. So far this year, they have shown that they are a team that can be exciting in the offensive zone and a mess in the defensive zone. That was expected by many.

At 2-1-1, there are reasons to be excited and reasons to be nervous about the way that the rest of the season is going to go. Against teams like the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins who play a strong game in all three zones, the Devils might struggle. Against fast-paced up-tempo teams like the New York Rangers, the Devils have a chance to win.

This team has not even been close to full strength this season. Nico Hischier has not played yet so far because of an injury. That is the biggest loss that this team can feel because he is so good. It looks like Jack Hughes is close to being right there with Hischier for the best player on the team but they are very different. Hischier is a guy who plays well in all three zones, including some offense. This year is going to be big for him if he ever gets to full-health.

Jesper Bratt took forever to sign his second contract and that has cost him a training camp and a few weeks of the already shortened season. He is finally on North American soil quarantining for the COVID-19 protocol. He is one of the top wingers on the team and will provide a good amount of offense. He will also really help their special teams who have struggled so far this season.

Right before the season started, the Devils announced that they have signed Sami Vatanen to a one-year deal. New Jersey traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline last year and have now brought him back. He isn’t a star defensively but he will add an upgrade to the group they are currently icing.

Having Hischier, Bratt, and Vatanen join this group should really help them out. It will also push some people down into roles more suitable for them. With the way that Hughes is playing, it is hard to see Hischier assuming the role of top-line center but it is also possible that their ice time is very similar. It is going to be interesting to see who his linemates are but Jesper Bratt would be a good option. Adding these two adds almost a whole new line that will be good in all three zones.

In addition to Hughes, there have been other players to be excited about. Ty Smith, Yegor Sharangovich, and Mackenzie Blackwood are all young players who have been difference makers. Having Hischier and Bratt in the lineup with guys like that can really show off how good this team can be in the coming years. With guys like Alex Holtz, Dawson Mercer, and Kevin Bahl amongst others on the way, this is fun to think about.

This team has been somewhat exciting to watch at times in the first four games. That is without two of their five best players so when they get back it should get even better. When all three of these guys are in the lineup, with maybe a few AHL additions, this team could be very fun for most of the season. The development of the core players is the key to a successful season, regardless of if they are a playoff team or not.